Pruning-shears.



No. 3 1,495, PATENTED JULY 30, 1907! W. H. BRADFORD.

PRUNING SHEARS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 190'].

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WITNESSES [NVENTOR By W A TTORNE Y5 WILLIAM H. BRADFORD, OF MAOHIAS, MAINE.

PRUNING-SHE ABS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July so, 1907.

' Application filed April12,1907. $erial No. 367,741.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. BRADFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Machias, in the county of Washington and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Pruning-Shears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pruning shears for trimmingthe branches of trees, bushes, vines, etc., and has for its object to provide an implement having a handle of sufficient length for all practical purposes but which can be divided and the pull rod folded so that it may be carried more conveniently.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the improved pruning implement, the two parts of the handle joined and ready for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view partly broken away of the joint between the two parts of the handle. Fig. 3 is a view of the parts represented in Fig. 2'and on the same scale, viewed in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 2. Fig. 4- is a view of a portion of the handle and pull rod disconnected and folded. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the jointed connection between the handle sections.

Similar numerals of reference indicate the same parts on all the figures.

The handle of the implement indicated as a whole by the numeral 1, is made in two parts, an upper section 2 and a lower section 3, separably connected. The upper section 2 is provided with the usual bill or hook 4 made of two parallel plates, between which a knife 5 is pivoted. The knife 5 has the usual curved blade and outwardly extending arm 6 to which the upper end 7 of the pull rod is attached.

The lower section 3 has fastened thereto a bracket 8 on which is pivoted an operating handle 9 and to which the lower end 10 0f the pull rod is connected. The upper end 11 of the lower handle section 3 is tapered slightly on opposite sides to form flat surfaces for two metal plates 12, fastened to the section 3 by rivets 13, between which plates is a slot 12. A rivet 14 extends between the plates at the bottom of the slot 12 as shown to form a locking lug for the upper section.

The lower end of the upper section 2 is also tapered on opposite sides and fits between the ends 15 of ametal strip or plate doubled upon itself as indicated at 16 in Fig. 3. The ends 15 of the plate are connected by through rivets 17 to the handle section 2, and in the folded end 18 of the plate is cut a notch 19, that engages the rivet or locking lug 14 when the two handle sections 2 and 3 are assembled. This is quickly accomplished.

'by slipping the doubled end 16 in the slot between the plates 12, passing a bolt 20 through alined perforations in the end of said plates and the doubled strip 16, and then screwing a nut on' the bolt. The rivet 14 engaging the notch 19, prevents the two handle sections from turning on the bolt 20. j

The pull rod is made of wire in two parts 7 and 10 connected together intermediate their length, on a line with the bolt 20 by an eye or loop 21 on each part inter locking one with the other.

When the handle is to be divided for carrying or shipping the implement, the bolt 20 is removed after unscrewing the nut and the two handle sections drawn apart sufficiently far to disengage the notch 19 from the locking lug or rivet 14. The two sections are then placed side by side as in Fig. 4, the pull rod folding at the joined loops 21. While the jointed ends of the divided handle'are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 as being made of metal, this form of connection is not necessary as it may be made entirely from the material of the handle as represented in Fig. 5.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A pruning implement provided with a two part divided handle, spaced parallel plates on one section of the handle for receiving between them a plate on the other section, a removable bolt passing through said plates for rigidly connecting them together, means for preventing said handle sections from pivoting on said bolt, and a foldable pull rod.

2. A pruning implement provided with a two part divided handle, spaced parallel plates on one section of said handle, and a locking lug between said plates, a plate socured to the other handle section fitted between said parallel plates and provided with a notch to engage said lock ing lug, and means for connecting the handle sections.

3. A pruning implement provided with a two part divided handle, spaced parallel plates on one section of the handle projecting from the end thereof and a locking lug between said plates, a strip or plate doubled upon itself and fastened to the end of the other handle section, the

folded end of said strip or plate having a notch cut therein, said folded strip adapted to fit between said parallel plates and the notch to engage said locking lug, a belt for connecting said parallel plates to said folded strip, and a foldable pull rod.

In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BRADFORD.

Witnesses:

C. M. HUTCHINSON, P. H. LONGFELLOW. 

